BART opens library book kiosk

A first-of-its kind service for BART riders starts Thursday. You can not only enjoy the ride, you can enjoy a book from the BART library, available right at the station.

It is an automate book lending system. There are 400 fiction and non-fiction books inside the kiosk and all you need is your Contra Costa County library card to access it. You can check out up to three books at a time. You could keep the books for three weeks and then you have to return the books to the kiosk. BART hopes this new service will help pass the time.

"People have long commutes. So we are trying to make their commutes shorter by giving them involved in a book. If they can get themselves involved in a really nice novel maybe they won't even notice the ride is a half hour into San Francisco or Oakland," said Linton Johnson, BART spokesman.

Pittsburg is the first station to have this kiosk. There will also be one put in Pleasant Hill and the Byron/Discovery Bay station.

BART is the first transit station in the country to offer it. The service is paid for with a grant. So if you want to see this at your local BART station next to you, just contact your local library and encourage them to apply for the grant.